Stapling pliers



AUZ- 12, 1941- l s. A. cRsBY 2,251,917

STAPLING PLIERS Filed July 10.1959

ATTOREY Patented A ug. 12, 1941 PATENT OFFICE STAPLING PLIERS Stephen Crosby, Jackson Heights, N. Y., as- I signor to Speed Products Company, Long Island City, N. Y.

Application July 1o, 1939,'s'er1a1 No. 283,691

8 Claims.

'Ihe invention deals with the art of stapling machines, featuring however, a stapling machine of the type known in the art as a plier having a staple carrying and staple ejecting arm pivotally interposed between a pair of conveniently controlled upperand lower manipulatable pivoted Jaws adapted to actuate a reciprocable staple ejecting plunger operatively connected to the upper jaw and 'movably guided in the arm for .driving a staple, through the material to be stapled but against a staple clinching anvil carried by the lower jaw. One object of the invention however is directly concerned with novel rotatable latch clearing means rotatably straddling the sides of the lower Jaw and resiliently mounted therein and having a rotatable cradle including means adapted to be disconnectably engageable with the staple carrying and staple ejecting arm and particularly the magazine of the latter whereby the magazine and lower v:law

provide a predetermined gap in the normally raised position of the arm to permit the insertion into the gap of sheet material to be stapled or fastened together. Another object of the inven- Vtion is realized in the provision of a complementary 'connection between the upper jaw and the upper part of the blade of the staple' electing plunger to permit the latter to move rearwardly relative to thelupper pivoted jaw during down'- ward slidable rectilinear displacement of the plunger andto move forwardly relativetov the upper jaw upon pivotal retraction of the latter and upon rectilinear upward retraction of the slidable plunger. Other functional and structural aspects, objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated and understood from the following detailed specilication considered with the teachings, o f the accompanying drawing whereinz' Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the plier according to my invention showing the staple carrying arm and the upper jaw in their normal elevated positions in respect to the lower Jaw.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating the related positioning of the upper j'aw against plunger and the anvil -of the lower jaw in operative alinement with the staple carrying and e staple electing arm. however .preparatory -to a complete downward stroke on the part of the plunger.

Fig. 2' is a fragmentary view of the pliershowing the relation of theupperiaw in respect to the staple carrying and staple electing arm when the upper Jaw is fully closed or depressed.

' Fig. 3illustrates in perspective an open view of the plier.

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal 'and elevational view in section of the plier.

5 Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view on the line Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the 1.0 clearing latch at a time when it is rotated to be withdrawn from engagement with themagazine.

Fig.. 8 is a perspective view of the clearing latch mounted on the free end of the leaf spring seat.l

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 10 is a perspective'view of thev slidable latch for interlocking the magazine and cover of the staple carrying arm.

The plier P has a staplecarrying and staple ejecting arm A pivotally interposed between and' straddled by upper and lower jaws or handles -U and L having their rear ends provided with ears I0 and Il pivoted on the fulcrum' pin i3' which also pivotally or rotatably sustains the rear part of arm4 A defined by the'rear part Il of the magazine cover generally denoted C and the rear part I54 of the magazine M adapted to telescopically receive rear part Il. f

Slidabiy and"vertically guided at the front part of the pivoted arm A is a U shaped plunger gen-'- erally designated I6 xedly carrying the staple ejecting blade I1 adapted to drive the foremost staple I8 of a staple strip I9 through the vertical raceway 2| deiined by the front wall 22 of the magazine M and the front wall 23 of fixed U shaped rail 24 forming a part of the'pivoted magazine which has a bottom wall 2l provided with substantially T shaped opening. 2| having 40 the expanded portion 21 communicating with the contracted portion 28 and characterizing spaced lips or shoulders 29 adapted to contact and actuate the inclined head having shoulders l! integral with a reduced stem $2 of f clearing latch generally denoted 33 comprising the rotatable U shaped yoke or cradle 34 which is integral with stem 32 and with the forwardly extending flngers or projections Il' characterizing with the tail 35 of stem I2, means for retaining 50 the upwardly and forwardly extending inclined or oilset rear portion or seat forming a part of a leaf spring 38 having its forward end anchored to .the intermediate partof the lower Jaw 4 or member L.

55 operatively interconnecting plunger II and ` the upperfwall 31 of the swingable cover C is a helicoidalspring 38 which has its upper end anchored to a fixed extension 39 of wall 31 and has its lower end anchored to a lug 40 projecting from the movable plunger I6. 'Ihus spring 38 normally holds the plunger elevated and in such relation stop means 4I of the sides of the plunger abut the xed wall 31.

A staple follower F of the type disclosed in my copending application, S. N. 248,331,1iled December 29, 1938, is slidably mounted on and. interlocks with the rail 24. This follower is normally urged forwardly and against the staple strip I9 when the cover C is in a closed relation with the magazine (Fig. 1) due to the action of the looped helicoidal spring 43 having its intermediate part trained over the locking latch 44 slidably guided in slots 45 of the cover C and receivable in the notches 46 of the spaced wings 41 of the magazine. More particularly, latch 44. is provided with the curved' and grooved bear'.- ing 48 adapted to receive a part of spring ,43 which has its upper reach 43 anchored to a fixed lug 53 extending inwardly from the cover C and has its lowerv reach I connected to a hook or projection 52 integral with the slidable follower F. The action of spring 43 is dual in nature in that it automatically shifts latch'44 to interlock with the magazine when the cover is closed and atthe same time automatically shifts the folautoi'natically shifted rearwardly along the rail to permit the insertion of the staples in the'4 magazine..

vlower `forwardly against the staple strip but when the cover is swung open-the follower is In instances wherefit is desired to employ the lower jaw L and particularly the iixed anvil 54 thereof for, 'clinching the driven staples, the

swingable lower jaw is in the position shown in Fig. 4, namely, the neck 55 of the stem 32 which extends above the lhorizontal arms 56 of the yoke 3 4 is within the contracted recess or opening 28 in the lower wall 25 of the magazine and lips or engaging means 29 of the latterA are in the gaps 51 defined by shoulders 3"I and the laterally extending arms 56and since the inclined end lor seat '35' of fiat spring 36 continuously exerts an upwardly directed force against the forwardly extending fingers`34, yoke 34 is therefore normally urged counter clockwise in -that arms tending upwardly from one of the arms 56. This crank together with extension 6I ofthe yoke or cradle 34 straddle ears Ilzof the lower jaw -L while arms 66 although rotatable in slots 61' of .l this jaw, and the slots 51' also act as a guide for bodily vertical displacement of the cradle.

With the arms 56 of the cradle, and shoulders 3 I` oi the head' 36 ofthe clearing latch, straddling stop lips 23,v the clearing latch maybe said to be interlocked with the magazine and yieldingly hem in such relation by the i'ear spring :s in

which event the lower part or tail part 350i stem "32 is abuttingagainst stop `.lug 63 struck out. of-

while stem 1I thereof moves further and further` the lower jaw. It follows that in the interlocked relation of the clearing latch and magazine, the stem 32 is in a substantially vertical position although the magazine of arm A is held a predetermined distance from the lower J'aw whereby papers or the like to be stapled may be conveniently interposed between anvil 54 and thev magazine for receiving a staple ejected by blade I1 of course when both of the upper and lower Jaws have been moved towards each other upon the application of finger pressure thereon in which event the upper jaw actuated the plunger but during this time the shoulders or spaced lips 29 of the magazine abut arms 56 thus causing the clearing latch 33 to be downwardly and vertically displaced but against the resistance of the inclined terminal of the flat spring 36. However upon removal of the finger pressure applied' to the jaws after the stapling operation, spring 36 releases its energy, raising lugs 34', and therefore arms 56 of the cradle automatically lift lips 29 thereby pivotally raising the magazine until terminal 35 abutsv stop 63.

In case it is desired to use the plier as a tacker, the'lower jaw may be readily unlocked from the magazine. -In this connection, the operator merely actuates handle 60 in a counterclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. Thus the cradle is rotated and hence neck 55 is removed from the reduced opening 28 and into the enlarged opening 21 whereby head 38 may be readily withdrawn from'the magazine com'- pletely. Hence the lowervjaw may .be swung rearwardly and a staple maybe discharged from the magazine with the aid oi' the plunger, directly against and into material to be stapled however without the utilization of 'the anvil.

Having disengaged the clearing latch 33 from the magazine, these structural components may be readily interlocked again by merely swinging the lower jaw in a clockwise direction whereby the inclined head 30 first;` strikes lips 23 (Figs. 3 and '1) causing the clearing latch to tilt for-` wardly until notches 51 are in alinement with the spaced lips 29 in which case spring 36 automatically urges neck 55 of stem 35 into the con'- tracted opening 28,- thus shoulders 3| and arms 56 again interlock withvthe lips 29 of the magal zine.

A relatively'loose but movable connection is provided between the forward end of the upper jaw and the staple ejecting plunger to permit direct drivingaction or power to be applied to the plungeron each depression of the upper jaw. The loose connection comprises a'T shaped lugl 10 having its stem portion1I integralwith the forward transverse wall of the plunger I6..

rearwardly into the reduced part of the T shaped opening 12 to compensate for the pivotal movement of the upper jaw until lthe lower face 13 of the latter strikes the upper peripheral face 14v of the front part o! the casing or cover ',C at

which time a staple has been ejected from the raceway.

Upon removal of finger pressure from the up-k the upper jaw has been again elevated or re-V tracted whereby the T shaped lug has moved to be at the fore part (Fig. 1) of the T. shaped slot 12, and of course the laterally extending wings of lug 10 prevent disengagement of the upper jaw from the plunger I6.

Even though theclearing latch is interlocked with the cover, the latter may be swung open to expose the rail of the magazine to permit the insertion of staples in the latter. latch 44 is grasped and pulled forwardly and out of notches 46. It follows that the cover and magazine are now unlocked, and the cover may be swung away from the magazine. In the eventthat the plier is used as a tacker, the magazine may be opened in a similar fashion after the slidable latch has been actuated to unlock the magazine. l

As many changes could be made in the above described construction and many widely different species or structural embodiments could be devised without departing from; the. scope 'there- 4oi', it is intended rthat all matter hereinbefore described in the specication and illustrated in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a stapling machine, a staple carrying arm having engaging means, an anvil supporting member pivotally sustaining said 5arm and having spaced sides including transversely alined openings, a spring carried by said member, a

lclearing latch havinga cross arm rotatably disposed in said openings and adapted to removably interlock tvith said engaging means and having spaced means for rotatably straddling said sides and having other means retained on said spring whereby the latter normally urges said latch in a direction to interlock with said engaging means, and movable driving means'for ejecting a staple from said staple carrying arm.

2. In a stapling machine, a staple carrying arm having engaging means, an anvil supporting member movably sustaining said arm and having spaced sides including transversely alined relatively elongated openings, a spring carried by said'member, a clearing latch having a cross arm rotatably and rectilinearly disposed in said openings and having spaced terminal means movably straddling said sides and having other means retained on said spring whereby the latter normally urges said latch in a direction to removably interlock with said engaging means.

and driving means for ejecting a staple from said staple carrying arm.

3. In a stapling machine, ya staple carrying .arm having lip means, an anvil supporting memvloer pivotally sustaining said arm and having A ings and having notched means to disengageably interlock with said lip means and having means resiliently retained on said free portion whereby the latter normally urges said latch in a direction to allow said notched means to disengageably interlock with said lip means, and driving carrying arm.

4. In a stapling machine, a staple carrying.

arm, an anvil supporting member pivotally sustaining said arm and having spaced sides including transversely alined and relatively elon- To this end,

vgated openings, said arm having a bottom wall including an opening comprisingy an expanded and a reduced portion dening spaced lips, a spring `carried by said member, a clearing latch having a cross arm rotatably and rectilinearly disposed in said elongated openings and including notched means to disengageably interlock with said lips and having spaced means rotatably straddling said sides and having other means seated on said spring `for normaly urging said latch to move in a direction to allow said notched means to interlock with said lips, and driving means for ejecting a staple from said staple carrying arm.

5. In a stapling machine, a staple carrying arm having spaced lips, an anvil supporting member pivotally sustaining said arm and having spaced sides including alined and relatively elongated non-circular openings, a spring carried by said member andvhavin'g a free portion, a. clearing latch having a non-circular cross arm rotatably and rectilinearly disposed in said openings and including spaced shoulders defining with 'said cross arm means to disengageably interlock With-said lips, spaced cranks extending from said cross arm and rotatably straddling said sides, said latch having a depending stem and having forwardly extending ngers retained on said free-portion, the latter normally urging said latch to move in a direction towards said lips for interlocking therewith, stop means carried by said member and cooperating with said stem to lim-it movement of said latch in said direction, and driving means for ejecting a staple from said staple carrying arm.

6. In a stapling machine, a staple carrying arm having lip means, an'anvil supporting member pivotally sustaining said arm and including spaced sides having alined'openings, a leaf spring carried by said member and having a free portion, a tiltable clearing latch having a cross arm rotatably disposed in said openings, said' 7. In combination, a staple carrying arm, a

l rectilinearly guided staple ejecting driver ear- 4means for ejecting a staple from said staple ried by said arm and having an attenuated stem including a head, and an actuator pivoted relatively to said arm for operating said driver and having a wall including a slot for slidably guiding said stem to permit. a portion of the latter to move rearwardly in said slot relative to said actuator upon downward displacement of said driver relative to said arm and forwardly relative to said actuator upon the retraction of said driver, said head projecting laterally of and above said slot and cooperating with said wall to limit tilting of said actuator away from said arm rectilinearly guided staple ejecting driver carried by said arm and having. an attenuated stem including a transversely arranged cross arm, and a pivoted actuator for operating said driver and 8..In combination, staple carrying arm, a

4 A l 2,251,917 c." p

having a wall including a substantially T shaped said 'cross arm being disposed above said Wall slot for receiving and slidably guiding said stem and extending laterally of said slot and coopto permit a portion of the latter to move rearerating with said.wal1 'to limit upward 4pivotal wardly in said slot relative to said actuator upon displacement o1' said actuator away from said downward displacement of said driver relative to 5 arm. said armand` forwardlyin said slot relative to STEPHEN A. CROSBY, .i said actuator upon the Vretraction of said driver. 

